We seek power for the powerless….

How JuD can sabotage Kashmir’s indigenous struggle for freedom?

Due to its indigenous character, the Wani-triggered movement not only attracted the attention of international community, it also shook the conscience of Indian intelligentsia and people at large.

HUSSAIN SAQIB

Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a social media warrior of liberation movement of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir, was martyred in an encounter with occupation army of India on July 8, 2016. Through his social media campaign, he organized and fired up Kashmiri youth who had started feeling betrayed and disillusioned at the hands of their leaders and was frustrated at the atrocities of the occupation army. Wani, son of an educationist, was second of his siblings to have sacrificed his life to free his homeland from the clutches of Indian army.

Wani’s death has triggered a massive uprising invigorating the resistance movement which is more powerful than all the previous movements. This time it was purely indigenous in character. It was led and run by predominantly younger population of the valley. Due to its indigenous character, the movement not only attracted the attention of international community, it also shook the conscience of Indian intelligentsia and people at large. It was for the first time that the world realized that Kashmir’s liberation was a popular demand and a dream shared by all Kashmiris. The movement is genuinely gaining ground without any inference from across the Line of Control.

Probably for the first time, the valley, and the world saw massive and unprecedented rallies of furious youth holding Pakistani flags. The message was clear; India has lost any iota of moral right to be occupying Kashmir and that the youngest generation of the occupied valley wants no more nonsense from any quarter. Kashmiris want freedom from India through the exercise of right of self-determination promised by the United Nations.

Kashmiri sentiments have so far been exploited by many vested interest groups who have their own axe to grind and who look for an opportunity to take credit and serve their petty interests. These elements are both political and religious but political in the final analysis. Kashmiri leaders of all hues including APHC and other small political and militant groups have thoroughly disappointed Kashmiris. For fighting the cause of liberation, these organizations claim their own pound of flesh. Some jihadi organizations want to enforce their brand of religion in the valley but have brought death and destruction. Innocent and unarmed Kashmiri men and women have to suffer at the hands of fanatics and Indian army. These jihadis have tainted the genuine liberation movement as being sponsored by Pakistan or its agencies.

The latest spanner in the works was thrown by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed when he claimed that the man who was leading the processions following the killing of Burhan Wani, was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant. HuD may have made valuable contribution in the service of humanity but in an effort of claiming credit for his organization, he may have harmed the cause for which Kashmiri youth have offered supreme sacrifices. Kashmir needs silent soldiers, not credit-seekers. As for Pakistan, she is committed to provide moral and diplomatic support for the cause of Plebiscite in Kashmir but it cannot isolate itself internationally by being seen as a sponsor of the jihadi activities.